ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — The University of Georgia says the principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic is coming south to join the university's music school.

UGA said in a news release that Philip Smith is retiring to teach in the trumpet studio at UGA's Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Smith played with the New York Philharmonic for 36 years.

Music school director Dale Monson said UGA has a history of attracting top brass musicians as professors and that Smith's hiring is another step forward.

Smith graduated from The Juilliard School. He was invited to join the Chicago Symphony Orchestra when he was still a student. He was appointed co-principal trumpet of the New York Philharmonic three years later and was named the sole principal trumpet in 1988.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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Mayor re-elected in Atlanta suburb of Johns Creek

JOHNS CREEK, Ga. (AP) — Voters in the Atlanta suburb of Johns Creek have re-elected their city's mayor after the city council hired a lawyer to investigate his actions.

In June, the Johns Creek City Council voted to hire an outside lawyer to investigate the mayor. Bodker has said the accusations against him are politically motivated.

WSB Radio reports that Bodker said in his victory speech that it's time to "put our personal bickering aside" and govern positively once again.

Information from: WSB-AM.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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NTSB: Pilot likely caused mountain plane crash

ELLIJAY, Ga. (AP) — Federal aviation investigators have determined that a pilot's actions are the probable cause of a crash that killed him and three passengers in the north Georgia mountains.

The Beechcraft Bonanza vanished in the Chattahoochee National Forest on May 30, 2011, while on a sightseeing flight during the 50th reunion of the Gilmer County High School Class of 1961.

Killed were pilot Phil Key of Pataskala, Ohio; and passengers Patricia Smith, of Ellijay; and a couple, Woody and Mattie Pierce of Ellijay.

The National Transportation Safety Board's investigation uncovered a past problem with the plane's altimeter, but said the pilot should have been able to see and avoid obstacles.

The NTSB said in its report that the pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the mountainous terrain was the probable cause of the crash.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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4 runoffs to be held in Atlanta school board races

ATLANTA (AP) — Four of the races for Atlanta Board of Education seats will be decided in runoffs after Tuesday's voting failed to determine clear winners.

In another race involving the same school board, small business owner Leslie Grant defeated longtime board member Brenda Muhammad to represent southeast Atlanta.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that incumbents won two Atlanta school board races: Courtney English held onto his seat over school administrator Nisha Simamma in a citywide election, and Nancy Meister was re-elected over film consultant Taryn Chilivis Bowman to represent north Atlanta.

Runoffs will be held Dec. 3 to decide on representatives for west and southwest Atlanta, as well as two citywide seats.

Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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Macy's breaks with tradition with artificial tree

ATLANTA (AP) — Macy's is opting to use an artificial Christmas tree for Lenox Square Mall store in Atlanta.

WXIA-TV reports that this year marks the first time it will use an artificial tree instead of a real one for its annual "great tree."

Macy's said in a statement Tuesday that it would begin using an artificial tree to be consistent with its "commitment to sustainable business practices."

Macy says the new tree stands about 56 feet tall and will be decorated by 45,000 white and multi-color sparkling LED twinkle lights.

In the past, the store selected its trees from somewhere in Georgia. In 2011, a 60-foot tree snapped and had to be replaced with another one. The store said drought conditions that year made it difficult to find a healthy tree.

Information from: WXIA-TV.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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Man dies after being struck by cars in east Georgia

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Authorities say a 19-year-old man has died after he was struck by two cars while crossing a road in the Augusta area.

Richmond County sheriff's officials say Darius Bush was attempting to cross the northbound lanes of Old Waynesboro Road when he was struck by a vehicle Tuesday night.

The Augusta Chronicle reports that Bush was then thrown into the southbound lanes, where he was struck a second time by a different vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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